A reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that the backlog of 22 882 incapacity leave and ill-health retirement applications, accumulated by November 2013 across the nine provincial departments of education, has still not been dealt with, nine months later.
  
More worryingly, the backlog – as revealed to the DA in a reply to a question last year – has not decreased at all.

Incapacity leave is sick leave in addition to that allowed for in educators' conditions of service. If an application is made, it is deemed approved by the province until it has been officially processed. This means that the applicant is paid a full salary and is excused from teaching duties for the period of application. Very often, in provinces such as the Eastern Cape, the provincial budget and bureaucracy preclude a substitute teacher from being appointed during this time of absence, and learners potentially go untaught.
  
It is particularly the backlog of 7 489 applications for long-term ill-health incapacity that is concerning. It is unclear how long these teachers have been on leave, and if for legitimate reasons. Indeed, until the applications are processed, no action can be taken against those who are not legitimately unwell.
  
2 050 long-outstanding applications for ill-health retirement have also not been dealt with. It is alarming that 1 695 of these cases emanate from the Free State. The number is disproportionately large, and the province must be asked, by the Minister of Basic Education, to investigate and explain.
  
   
The inordinate delay means that 2 050 teachers, who have no intention of returning to teach, are being paid full salaries, and classrooms are often left unattended. Many of the cases will be legitimate; these educators must be allowed to retire, and new appointees must take their places in front of our learners. However, without the process working optimally and with proper oversight, illegitimate applications are not being weeded out. This will hamper our education system.
  
These applications are managed by independent consultants, known as Health Risk Managers, appointed by the Department of Public Service and Administration. The DA understands that the backlog arose when an unsuccessful tenderer for a Health Risk Management contract challenged the procurement process in court.
  
   
The successful bidders were appointed on November 2013. And, in the nine months since their appointment, they have only dealt with new applications. The DA will submit questions to seek an explanation for this, specifically:
  

• How long have the backlog cases gone unattended?
• Whether a province can legitimately force a teacher to repay the thousands of rands owed for the period in question, if they are found to have acted fraudulently after such a long period ?
• Whether all provinces can administer the implementation of the findings of the Health Risk Managers once they are determined? and
• Whether all provinces have the resources – and backup plans – to deal with the drop in capacity when these teachers take such leave?

   
It is essential that the Minister get to grips with this problem, before it snow-balls out of control. Our hard working teachers, who have every right to access a system of leave when they face such circumstances, deserve to know it is working optimally and without controversy. Learners deserve teachers in their classrooms.
  
   
The DA will continue to submit parliamentary questions to ensure that this issue receives the urgent attention it deserves, and so that it can be rectified in the future.